GenCell Energy, a leading provider of hydrogen-to-power solutions, has announced a major expansion of its partnership with Mexico’s state-owned utility Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE). CFE has exercised its option to double its initial order for GenCell REXTM backup power units, solidifying its commitment to clean energy solutions and grid resilience.
The GenCell REXTM units, powered by hydrogen fuel cells and equipped with GenCell’s proprietary AI-driven energy management software (GEMS), provide zero-emission, long-duration Tier One backup power to CFE’s substations. This ensures uninterrupted power distribution during grid outages, a critical requirement for a reliable and resilient electricity infrastructure.
The collaboration between CFE, GenCell, and GenCell’s Mexican partner GnCell Energy de México has proven successful in optimizing substation operations and systems interoperability. The initial order for additional GenCell REX systems, which feature a triple load capacity (130, 48, and 12 VDC in a single unit), was placed in December 2023. The recent decision to double the order signifies CFE’s confidence in GenCell’s technology and the benefits it offers for their grid modernization efforts.
The GenCell REXTM units significantly enhance substation resilience, digitization, and automation. They also facilitate predictive maintenance, network modernization, and compliance with cybersecurity and regulatory mandates. The project extends backup duration from 8 to 24 hours, ensuring uninterrupted power supply even during prolonged outages.
Designed for extreme environmental conditions, GenCell’s backup solutions operate in temperatures ranging from -20°C to +45°C without preheating and in humidity up to 90%. Servicing, parts, and fuel replacement are infrequent, requiring only annual maintenance. GenCell’s GEMS software provides CFE with complete visibility into substation resilience and supports their efforts to meet 2030 Smart Grid Maturity & Interoperability Goals.
Rami Reshef, co-founder and CEO of GenCell, expressed pride in the partnership with CFE. “We are proud and grateful to reach this stage in our partnership with CFE, delivering climate-resilient auxiliary power critical to CFE’s ability to distribute uninterrupted power across Mexico,” he said. “Working together with CFE to optimally leverage hydrogen in Mexico’s clean energy future, GenCell is realizing our vision of GreenFSGTM – an innovative approach incorporating broad distribution of independent, zero-emission circular economies delivering long-duration clean power anywhere.”
Reshef further emphasized the significance of this project in addressing the challenges of climate disruption. “When climate disruption causes outages to extend from 8 to 20+ hours, innovation that extends backup duration and reliability, enabling ‘always-on’ substations to sustain distribution systems’ critical operations, is a utility game-changer,” he stated. “We are confident that our strategic partnership with CFE driving substation resilience will propel GenCell’s extended penetration of the power utility sector across North America.”
GenCell Energy is committed to developing GreenFSG power solutions based on reliable, zero-emission alkaline fuel cells, Hydrogen2PowerTM, Ammonia2PowerTM, and Water2Power® technologies. The company aims to help the world #SayNoToDiesel and transition to clean energy. GenCell’s solutions deliver resilient, robust, and weather-resistant backup power for utilities, telecom, EV charging, and other mission-critical applications. Their solutions have been deployed in 23 countries.
